1608-01-01

Queirós, Pedro Fernandes de

Spain

5350571

Digitised

Out of Copyright.

Full title: Señor :‎ ‬el capitan Pedro Fernandez de Quiròs : despues q́́ puse en pratica el descubrimiento de las tierras incognitas del Sur

4 leaves ([8] p.) ; 32 cm.

Third in the series of fourteen known Quirós presentation memorials. Quirós wrote about fifty memorials addressed to the King Philip III of Spain describing the wonders of the lands he had discovered and requesting Royal support to organize a new expedition to the Southern hemisphere. The majority of them were manuscripts, but fourteen were printed between 1607 and 1614 at Quirós’ expense for presentation at the Council of the Indies. Circulation of all memorials was restricted to the King, ministers and Councils of State, of War and the Indies. When it was learnt in 1610 he was distributing them beyond the court the King ordered all memorials to be recalled. The Eighth Memorial ‘escaped’ the Spanish borders and was translated into various languages. These so-called “presentation memorials” – to be distinguished from later derivative printings which appeared throughout Europe – are among the most valuable of all printed Australiana. This third presentation memorial provides five reasons rebutting objections against settling in the Austral Lands. They being defence needs of the Spanish empire, financial resources, money already spent, focus of conversions on South America and the lack of Spanish migrants. A very rare foundation document of Australia.‬

Books

2022-09-08

Madrid